Ambassador announces agenda to boost Nigeria-Israel trade ties
Nigeria Seeks to Strengthen Trade Ties with Israel
ABUJA — Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, Nkechi Ufochukwu, announced efforts to enhance the trade agreement between Nigeria and Israel during a forum held in Abuja over the weekend. This initiative aims to strengthen bilateral relations and foster economic cooperation.
Ambassador Ufochukwu emphasized that improving trade ties is a primary focus of her diplomatic agenda, stating, “My main point and plan are to strengthen the trade agreement between the two countries.”
In addition to trade, Ufochukwu plans to promote Nigeria’s culture, agriculture, and investment opportunities while facilitating training in cybersecurity and information technology. She expressed her commitment to fulfilling her mandate and collaborating with stakeholders to achieve meaningful results.
“I will put in my best in what is required of me to do the work which has been given to me; let us keep communication open and get the work done,” she said.
Participants at the forum highlighted the need for Nigeria to address structural challenges that hinder business growth, drawing parallels with Israel’s innovation-driven economy. Pastor Henry Opara, a member of the forum, underscored the importance of formal bilateral agreements, pointing out that current engagements are largely informal and reliant on individual relationships.
“What we have now is more of person-to-person business relationships, which is not ideal. With proper bilateral agreements, it becomes government-to-government engagement guided by laid-down rules,” Opara remarked.
Mrs. Florence Osuji, National Coordinator of the Nigeria-Israel Business Forum (NIBF), called for renewed official trade agreements between the two nations, noting that existing arrangements have lapsed and current trade lacks formal backing.
